Alibro

Well-Known Member

• Nov 2, 2015

• #1

Hi guys
My Freebie is due MOT next month so trying to sort a few things. SWMBO who drives it most was complaining the handbrake is rubbish so am thinking of ordering shoes and spring kits.
Couple of questions then.
The car has 105,000 miles on it and I suspect never had a new set of shoes. How long do they normally last?
Eurocarparts have Pagid shoes for £30 but no kits, Famous Four have no name shoes for £15 and the adjuster/spring kit for another £15.
Anyone tried either sets?

 

saxavordian

Well-Known Member

• Nov 3, 2015

• #2

The handbrake can be adjusted to take up the slack. Mine was scary on a hill. By odd luck I had a scrapping sound at the back so I thought my rear brakes had failed. Turned out the retaining clip for the shoes had snapped and scraped inside. But when the my garage mechanic sorted problem they also sorted out my handbrake Length of time can be debated on who is a light user or harry leadfoot. If you have the Haynes manual handy this mentions suitable period for parts replacements.

 

B34R

Active Member

• Nov 3, 2015

• #3

Funny you brought this up, I think mine have just gone at 80k

First set off in a morning or after work I'm getting a *screeee* and then I end up faceplanting the steering wheel.

Will have to get the bits on order.

 

wammers

No longer with us, RIP

Donater

• Nov 3, 2015

• #4

Properly maintained shoes last a fairish time but things do wear. Brake shoes are a service item and should be checked and changed at regular intervals as required. Hand brake adjustment is a fairly easy task but pretty pointless if the shoes are past their best.

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

• Nov 3, 2015

• #5

wammers said:

Properly maintained shoes last a fairish time but things do wear. Brake shoes are a service item and should be checked and changed at regular intervals as required. Hand brake adjustment is a fairly easy task but pretty pointless if the shoes are past their best.

Click to expand...

Agreed ^^^^. It's actually bad policy to adjust the HB cables to compensate for worn shoes as it prevents the new shoes from adjusting correctly when fitted.
Fit quality shoes and new drums if worn, scuffed or groved. A correctly working HB should be able to hold the Freelander on any hill the vehicle can climb

 

wammers

No longer with us, RIP

Donater

• Nov 3, 2015

• #6

Nodge68 said:

Agreed ^^^^. It's actually bad policy to adjust the HB cables to compensate for worn shoes as it prevents the new shoes from adjusting correctly when fitted.
Fit quality shoes and new drums if worn, scuffed or groved. A correctly working HB should be able to hold the Freelander on any hill the vehicle can climb

Click to expand...

Hand brake cables should always be backed off before fitting new shoes so that compensators are at rest. Then brake pressed 30 or so times to allow auto adjusters to close gap to drum. Only then should cables be adjusted.

 

Alibro

Well-Known Member

• Nov 3, 2015

• #7

Thanks for the replies and advice guys. I ordered these Ferodo shoes.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111792914823?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
and this spring kit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321871998388?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
I figured if I'm going to the bother of taking off the hubs I might as well fit new brakes. Knowing my luck if I'd taken them off without having new bits the whole lot would have fallen apart on me. Will report back when they're fitted.

 

teddywood1

Well-Known Member

• Nov 4, 2015

• #8

if they have not been changed for a long time I would order new springs and the little clips and holders as they are bound to be rusted up

 

Alibro

Well-Known Member

• Nov 5, 2015

• #9

teddywood1 said:

if they have not been changed for a long time I would order new springs and the little clips and holders as they are bound to be rusted up

Click to expand...

Yip, I agree that's y I bought the clips in the 2nd link. They probably haven't been looked at since the car was new.

 

Alibro

Well-Known Member

• Nov 8, 2015

• #10

Well the brake shoes, springs and pins have been changed but it turns out it may not have been necessary. There was plenty of meat left on the shoes however the pins were pretty corroded so maybe just as well I did it. Only issue now is the nearside wheel is rubbing so will need to take it off again to check what is wrong. I think there may be an issue with the handbrake cable as it isn't releasing properly on that side.

 

Alibro

Well-Known Member

• Nov 9, 2015

• #11

Popped the hub off again on the nearside and found the issue straight away, the bottom part of one shoe wasn't seated correctly so it was rubbing the outside edge of the hub. Reseated it and all good now. The handbrake is superb now and no more noise.
The moral of this story is if you want a job doing well, do it yourself or don't ask a boy to do a mans job (Mind you he is 23 and has a degree in mechanical engineering so should know better). I did the off side while my son did the nearside.